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Texas 4000 Tribute Gala, More Katrina Stories and more

CHARITY, HEALTH AND TRAVEL: They almost glow. Riders for the Texas 4000, University of Texas students who bike to Alaska to raise money for cancer causes, are not just fit, alert and confident. They fairly radiate good will. At the Austin Music Hall, 570 guests welcomed 71 riders from the 2015 tour. This group — split into three equidistant routes — raised a record $750,000, quite a bit I’d guess donated by the ride’s 500 alumni. Altogether, the 12 rides so far have raised more than $5 million.

I talked with riders, staff, board members, backers and relatives during the longish fundraiser. Rarely have I encountered such unbridled enthusiasm for a cause and the way it transforms those raising the money. Among the notables in attendance was new UT President Gregory L. Fenves. Bet he was as impressed by this team as I was.